Background

The College of Science of Bahir Dar University (BDU) is located just southeast of the Bahir Dar city within the main campus of the university along with other colleges, faculties and institutes. Located three kilometers southeast of the center of the city and Lake Tana, the college is bounded by the Blue Nile River in the east and surrounded by dense trees.

The College of Science has evolved as a national teaching and research arm of BDU in October 2008. Formerly, the science departments (mainly Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics) were under the umbrella of the Education Faculty which was established in 1972 with the objective of training primary school teachers. Later, in 1996 these diplomas offering science departments were further upgraded to degree level and have been training teachers for secondary schools at BED (Bachelor of Education) degree level. However, the teaching at diploma level continued in the extension program. Based on the national transformation and growth agenda of the country, the science departments that were organized under the faculty of education were isolated and reorganized as one college, College of Science in 2008. To accomplish its mission the college offers seven undergraduate programs (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science/Geology, Industrial Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics), five master programs (Biology, Chemistry, Material Science, Physics and Mathematics) and one PhD program in physics. The college has also a plan to add other undergraduate and post graduate fields of study in the near future.

The college have many experienced instructors; 22 PhD, 73 MSc and 10 BSc/BEd totaling 105 teaching staff. There are also 25 diploma holder technical assistants and 32 administrative supporting staff. Some of our staffs are on study leave working towards their PhD (49) and MSc (13). In 2011/12 there are 3675 undergraduate and 533 graduate students coming from different parts of the country, including from neighboring countries like Somalia and Eritrea. The college is thus acting as a live national/international museum where different languages, views and understandings are aired, discussed and appreciated. In addition to teaching, the college staff is committed and engaged in different research and consultancy services addressing social, environmental and natural resource management issues.

In general, the college is working to maintain an academic atmosphere conducive to excellence in teaching and research and enforces high standards of performance to faculty and students.

Vision of College of Science

The collage has the vision of becoming one of the best researches and teaching learning colleges in the university producing graduates that could be of a national model.

 Mission of the college

The college of science is committed to providing high quality research based teaching –learning in science and mathematics that promote the success of its students.

More specifically the college works to;

• Provide quality research based science education and new academic programs to meet future challenges,
• Prepare students for careers across a broad range of science and mathematics disciplines,.
• Enable students and faculty to achieve their full potential in their quest for teaching and learning,
• Provide a safe environment for faculty, students and administration.
• Meet the emerging needs of the community through research.
• Support public service activities through collaborative work with both governmental and non governmental institutions